Chen Wuya's fingertips were still numb, his palms sticky with blood and mud. He lay prone on the ground, Bai Zhi's cold body in his arms. Her breathing was as faint as the wind, and every rise and fall made his heart skip a beat.
The rift behind them sealed shut completely, its thunderous roar making their eardrums ache. Yet the silence came too swiftly, making it all the more unsettling. It was so dark all around that they could not see their hands before their faces; only a faint glimmer in the distance shone like a lamp in the fog.
The South Sea Dragon Maiden knelt on the ground, breathing heavily. One hand braced against the earth, while the other still rested on Bai Zhi's wrist. After several breaths, she looked up at Chen Wuya. "She's still breathing, but she won't last much longer."
Chen Wuya said nothing, only held Bai Zhi a little tighter. Her head rested against his chest. Her hair had turned completely white, and not a trace of color remained in her face. He could feel her trembling—very faintly, but without pause.
"We have to go," he said.
"There's a ruined temple ahead." The South Sea Dragon Maiden pointed in a direction. "I saw it."
She tried to stand, but her legs gave out and she nearly fell. Chen Wuya reached out to steady her, only then noticing that her hand was trembling too, her fingertips tinged blue.
Supporting each other, the two of them inched forward step by step. Bai Zhi was very light, yet Chen Wuya felt as if she weighed too much to lift. With every step, a dull pain surged from his ribs, as though something were boring its way inward.
They had not gone far when the ground suddenly began